Scoparia plant named ‘Suntutubu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Scoparia  plant named ‘Suntutubu’, characterized by its upright and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; numerous small blue violet-colored flowers; long flowering period; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Scoparia sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Suntutubu’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofScoparia, botanically known as Scoparia sp. and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Suntutubu’.

The new Scoparia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breedingprogram was to create new compact Scoparia cultivars with attractiveflower coloration.

The new Scoparia originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in May, 2004, in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, of a proprietaryselection of Scoparia sp. identified as code number SCWB4, not patented,as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Scopariasp. identified as code number SCWB6, not patented, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Scoparia was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga,Japan.

Asexual reproduction of the new Scoparia by vegetative cuttings in acontrolled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since September,2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Scoparia are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Suntutubu has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Suntutubu’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Suntutubu’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofScoparia:

-   -   1. Upright and mounding plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Numerous small blue violet-colored flowers.    -   5. Long flowering period.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Scoparia differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Scoparia are shorter than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Scoparia have smaller flowers than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Scoparia and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have light blue violet-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Scoparia differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Scoparia are taller than plants of the male        parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Scoparia flower earlier than plants of the        male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Scoparia and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have dark blue violet-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Scoparia can be compared to plants of the cultivarUSSCO10, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,934. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the newScoparia and the cultivar USSCO10 differed in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Scoparia were shorter than plants of the        cultivar USSCO10.    -   2. Plants of the new Scoparia were more mounding than plants of        the cultivar USSCO10.    -   3. Plants of the new Scoparia had broader leaves than plants of        the cultivar USSCO10.    -   4. Plants of the new Scoparia flowered earlier than plants of        the cultivar USSCO10.    -   5. Plants of the new Scoparia had darker colored flowers than        plants of the cultivar USSCO10.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Scoparia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Scoparia.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Suntutubu’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalflowers, flower buds and leaves of ‘Suntutubu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, undercommercial practice during the early summer in an outdoor nursery withday temperatures averaging 23° C. and night temperatures averaging 13°C. After planting, plants had been growing for about four months whenthe photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Scoparia sp. cultivar Suntutubu.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Scoparia            sp. identified as code number SCWB4, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Scoparia            sp. identified as code number SCWB6, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About six days at 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant roots.—About three            weeks at 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous, fleshy; light brown in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/habit.—Upright and mounded plant habit; vigorous            growth habit. Freely branching habit, about 13 lateral            branches develop per plant.        -   Plant height.—About 19.2 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 34.6 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 21.1 cm. Diameter: About            1.8 mm. Internode length: About 2 cm. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Width.—About 2 mm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 137C; venation, close to 137C. Developing and fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B; venation,            close to 138B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type/habit.—Small single rotate flowers; flowers face            mostly outwardly. Freely flowering habit with about 210            flowers developing per plant.        -   Fragrance.—Similar to anise.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long and continuous flowering            habit from spring to late autumn in Higashiomi, Shiga,            Japan. Flowers not persistent.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about three to five            days on the plant.        -   Flower buds—Height: About 4.8 mm. Diameter: About 2.1 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to N88B.        -   Flower diameter.—About 1 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 5 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically four in a single            whorl; petals fused. Length: About 5.4 mm. Width: About            3.8 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Developing and fully expanded petals, upper surface: Close            to 92A. Developing and fully expanded petals, lower surface:            Close to 92A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl, fused at base; star-shaped calyx. Length: About            3.3 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute.            Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 144A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 0.3 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            four. Stamen length: About 3.2 mm. Anther shape:            Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 2.3 mm by 0.9 mm. Anther            color: Close to 13B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:            Close to 13C. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil            length: About 4.4 cm. Stigma shape: Globose. Stigma color:            Close to N88D. Style color: Close to N88D. Ovary color:            Close to 144D.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Scoparia have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Scoparia.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Scoparia have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures from about −1° C. to about 35° C.

1. A new and distinct Scoparia plant named ‘Suntutubu’ as illustratedand described.